Shedding light onto Rob Ford’s withdrawal from Mayoral candidacy
Trivial as it may seem, there is an important message hidden deep within the entirety of the Ford fiasco. Now that Rob Ford has withdrawn from the mayoral race and his brother Doug has filled his place, there are more questions that arise, which undoubtedly stir controversy.
Among these questions, one that sparks most interest has to do with the nature of Ford’s withdrawal. Ford announced that he would no longer be running for Mayor due to being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Once again, Ford made headlines across the nation, with all major media outlets covering this shocking announcement of his ailment. However, there is something oddly disconcerting about the headlines this time around.
Ford has consistently garnered national attention, but by announcing that he has a rare form of cancer, questions of public health and rights to privacy surface. How does this diagnosis affect the public perception of Ford? Surely it creates a more empathetic perspective, calling into question the scrutiny he has received over his tumultuous tenure as Mayor.
Intriguingly, there seems to be a distinct shift in language brought on by Ford’s announcement; pre-diagnosis and post-diagnosis discussions of Ford affect the language and thus his reception in the public sphere. In other words, through the influence of health, the discussion revolving around Ford has transitioned towards martyrdom. From being scrutinized to being empathized with, it is astounding how the public gaze shapes the opinions of Ford.
When language is changed and medical discourse becomes the predominate form of describing Ford, words such as rare, aggressive, and malignant accompany the politician’s image and evoke sympathy. How is it that the language of health has so drastically transformed a person’s image?
Undoubtedly, what has happened to Ford is terrible. Even at his peak, the constant bashing of Ford’s character in mainstream media seemed excessive to many. While some Torontonians chose to dwell on Ford’s mistakes, others focused on his political initiatives. Although his tenure as Mayor of Toronto has been questionable to say the least, is it justifiable to call into question his past actions after this diagnosis? When a diagnosis is made so publicly, what purpose does it serve?
Now that Doug Ford has come into the picture as Rob’s replacement, it seems that the Rob-Ford-era has come to an end. With the announcement of his diagnosis alongside his withdrawal from mayoral candidacy, the politics of the Ford family have become intertwined with the language of health. The political implications of Doug replacing his brother remain to be seen, but it seems evident that Rob’s diagnosis will certainly have some sort of role in shaping the public’s opinion on Doug’s campaign.
Whether you support the Fords or not, it is important to be aware of the different perceptions that can arise when health is brought into the picture. Through shifts in language, words can become more powerful and significantly affect the ways we perceive the actions and character of an individual.